Mission

The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government and influences public policy through education and advocacy.

OUR VISION

Bylaws

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League of Women Voters of Snohomish County
BYLAWS
April 1994, amended April 1996, April 1997, April 1998, May 1999, May 2004, May 2007

Preamble

Before becoming the League of Women Voters of Snohomish County, the League went through several name changes. In 1957, the LWV of Mountlake Terrace began as a provisional League and subsequently became an official League in 1958. In 1959, it became the League of Women Voters of Snohomish County. In 1966, the League of Women Voters of Everett disbanded after having been a League since 1960 and joined the south county League. At the annual meeting in 1968, it then became the League of Women Voters of Snohomish County.

The Articles of Incorporation of the League of Women Voters of Snohomish County were filed with Ralph Munro, who was then the Secretary of State for the State of Washington, on June 8, 1995. They were signed by Joan Vermilion, the 1994-96 President of the League of Women Voters of Snohomish County.

ARTICLE I: NAME

The name of this corporation shall be League of Women Voters of Snohomish County, hereinafter referred to as LWV of Snohomish County, or as the League, or as LWVSC. This local League is an integral part of the League of Women Voters of the United States, hereinafter referred to in these bylaws as LWVUS, and of the League of Women Voters of Washington.

ARTICLE II: PURPOSES AND POLICY

Section 1. Purposes: The purposes of the LWV of Snohomish County are to promote political responsibility through informed and active participation of citizens in government and to act on selected governmental issues.

Section 2. Political Policy: The League shall not support or oppose any political party or candidate.

ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Eligibility:
Any person who subscribes to the purposes and policy of the League shall be eligible for membership.

Section 2. Types of Membership:
a. Voting Members: U.S. citizens at least 18 years of age who join the LWV of Snohomish County shall be voting members of the local and state Leagues of their place of joining and of the LWVUS; (1) those who reside outside the area of any local League may join a local League or shall be members-at-large; (2) those who make a lump-sum membership payment to the LWVUS shall be paid life members and those who have been members of the League for 50 years or more shall be honorary life members excused from the payment of dues.
b. Associate Members: All others who join the League shall be associate members.

ARTICLE IV: OFFICERS

Section 1. Election, Qualifications and Term: The officers of the League of Women Voters of Snohomish County, shall be president (or co-presidents), first vice president, second vice-president, secretary and treasurer, who shall be elected for a term of two years at the annual meeting. All officers shall take office immediately following the annual meeting. The president, first vice-president and secretary shall be elected in the odd numbered years. The second vice-president and treasurer shall be elected in the even numbered years.

Section 2. The President(s): The president(s) shall have such powers of supervision and management as customarily pertain to the office; shall preside at all meetings of the corporation and the board, or designate another person to do so; shall be, ex officio, a member of all committees except the nominating committee; may sign or endorse checks, drafts and notes in the absence of the treasurer, and such other duties as the board may direct. In the event of the absence, disability or death of the president(s), the vice-presidents, in order of their rank, (or alternatively, co-president) shall assume the office. If no vice-president or co-president is able to serve, the board shall fill the vacancy from among the elected directors.

Section 3. The Vice-Presidents: The vice-presidents shall perform such duties as the president and the board shall direct.

Section 4. The Secretary: The secretary shall keep minutes of the membership business meetings and of the board meetings. The secretary shall notify all officers and directors of their election and shall sign with the president(s) all contract and other instruments when so authorized by the board and shall perform such other duties as the president(s) and board shall direct. The secretary shall maintain the official copy of the bylaws.

Section 5. The Treasurer: The treasurer shall collect and receive all moneys due; shall deposit them in a bank designated by the board of directors, and shall disburse the same only upon order of the board; shall present statements to the board at their regular meetings and an annual report to the annual meeting upon direction of the board.

ARTICLE V: BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1. Selection, Qualification and Term: The board of directors shall consist of the officers of the LWV of Snohomish County, six elected directors and not more than three directors appointed by the elected members of the board. All directors shall be voting members of the LWV of Snohomish County. Three directors shall be elected by each annual meeting and shall serve for a term of two years or until their successors have been elected and qualified. The appointed directors shall serve one year until the close of the next annual meeting or until their successors have been appointed and qualified. Vacancies other than the presidency shall be filled by vote of the remaining members of the board following recruitment by the nominating committee, and appointees to vacancies and shall serve until the next annual meeting. A vacancy occurs upon formal notice of resignation to the Board or when two consecutive Board meetings or a total of three Board meetings have been missed without cause in one League year.

Section 2. Powers: The board shall manage and supervise the business, affairs and activities of the LWV of Snohomish County subject to the instructions of the annual meeting. It shall select delegates to state convention and council and to national convention. It shall accept responsibility for such other matters as the national or state board may from time to time delegate to it. It shall have the power to create such special committees as it deems necessary and shall perform such other duties as are specified in these bylaws.

Section 3. Executive Committee: An executive committee consisting of the elected officers of the League may meet to decide routine administrative and financial details and act for the board in an emergency situation, providing appropriate program chairs have been included if program items are being considered. Four members of the executive committee shall constitute a quorum. Actions must be presented at the following board meeting for approval.

Section 4. Meetings: At least nine regular meetings of the board shall be held annually. A meeting of the membership may be either by local units or by general membership. The president(s) may call special meetings and shall call a special meeting upon the written request of five members of the board.

Section 5. Quorum: A majority of the members of the board of the LWV of Snohomish County shall constitute a quorum.

ARTICLE VI: MEETINGS

Section 1. Membership Meetings: There shall be at least four meetings of the membership each year. The time and place shall be determined by the board. The board may call a special general membership meeting and shall call such a meeting upon the written request of 20% of the voting members.

Section 2. Annual Meeting: An annual meeting shall be held no later than May 31, the exact date to be determined by the board. The annual meeting shall (a) adopt a local program for the ensuing year, (b) elect officers and directors, the chair and two members of the nominating committee, (c) adopt a budget, and (d) transact such other business as may properly come before it. Absentee or proxy voting shall not be permitted.

Section 3. Quorum: Twenty percent (20%) of the voting members as of January 1 of the current year, shall constitute a quorum at all business meetings of the LWV of Snohomish County. Written notice of the meeting shall be sent to the membership at least one week in advance.

ARTICLE VII: NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

Section 1. Nominating Committee: The nominating committee shall consist of five members. The chair and two members, who shall not be members of the board, shall be elected by the annual meeting. The board shall appoint the two other committee members from among the board of directors. Vacancies on the nominating committee shall be filled by the board. Other vacancies shall be filled by the Board of Directors following recruitment by the nominating committee.

Section 2. Report of Nominating Committee and Nominations from the Floor: The report of the nominating committee, containing its nominations for officers, directors and the chair and two members of the next nominating committee, shall be sent to all members one month before the annual meeting. The report of the nominating committee shall be presented to the annual meeting. Nominations may be made from the floor by any voting member, immediately thereafter, provided the consent of the nominee has been obtained.

Section 3. Election. Election shall be by ballot, except that if there is only one nominee for an office, it shall be by voice vote. A majority of those qualified to vote and voting shall constitute an election.

ARTICLE VIII: PRINCIPLES AND PROGRAM

Section 1. Principles: The Principles are concepts of government adopted by the national convention and supported by the League as a whole. They are the authorization for the adoption of national, state and local program.

Section 2. Program: The program of the LWV of Snohomish County shall consist of action to implement the Principles and those local government issues chosen by the annual meeting for concerted study and action as follows:
a. Voting members may make recommendations to the board at least two months before the annual meeting.
b. The board shall consider these recommendations and formulate a proposed program which shall be sent to the members at least one month before the annual meeting.
c. The annual meeting shall adopt a program by a majority vote. Recommendations for program submitted by voting members two months prior to the annual meeting, but not recommended by the Board of Directors, may be considered and adopted by the annual meeting provided that 1) the annual meeting shall order consideration by the majority vote, and 2) the annual meeting shall adopt the item by majority vote, and 3) there is a reasonable period of time between the vote for consideration and the vote for adoption.

Section 3. Changes in Program: Changes in the program, in the case of altered conditions, may be made, provided that information concerning the proposed change has been sent to all members at least two weeks before a general membership meeting at which the change is to be discussed, and that final action by the membership is taken at a succeeding meeting.

Section 4. Program Action: Members may act in the name of the LWV of Snohomish County only when authorized to do so by the board. They may act in the name of the League only in conformity with, and not contrary to, a position taken by the LWV of Snohomish County, the LWV of Washington, or the LWVUS.

ARTICLE IX: FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION

Section 1. Fiscal Year: The fiscal year of the LWV of Snohomish County shall be from July 1 to the following June 30.

Section 2. Dues: Effective 2008, the membership year shall coincide with the fiscal year. Annual dues shall be payable prior to July 1. A reduced-rate membership is offered to new members beginning January 1. When two or more members reside at the same address in a common household, one member will pay the full amount and each additional eligible member will pay at a rate equal to the combined State and National League per member payment rate. Any member who fails to pay dues within two months after they become payable shall be dropped from the membership rolls.

Section 3. Budget Committee: The budget shall be prepared by a committee which shall be appointed for that purpose at least two months before the annual meeting. The treasurer shall be, ex officio, a member of the budget committee but shall not be eligible to serve as chair. The proposed budget for the next fiscal year shall be sent to all members one month before the annual meeting.

Section 4. Financial Review: Accounts of the corporation shall be subject to financial review annually within 60 days of the close of the fiscal year.

Section 5. Distribution of Funds on Dissolution: In the event of the dissolution of the LWV of Snohomish County, all moneys and securities which may at the time be owned by or under the control of the LWV of Snohomish County, shall be paid to the LWV of Washington after the state and national per member payments and other obligations have been met. All other property of whatsoever nature, whether real, personal, or mixed, which may at the time be owned or under the control of the LWV of Snohomish County shall be disposed of to such person, organization, or corporation for such public, charitable or educational use and purposes as the board in its absolute discretion may designate.

ARTICLE X: CONVENTIONS AND COUNCIL

Section 1. National Convention: The board of directors at a meeting before the date on which the names of delegates must be sent to the national office shall select delegates to that convention in the number allotted the League of Women Voters of Snohomish County under the provisions of the bylaws of the League of Women Voters of the United States.

Section 2. State Convention: The board of directors at a meeting before the date on which the names of delegates must be sent to the state office shall select delegates to that convention in the number allotted the League of Women Voters of Snohomish County under the provisions of the bylaws of the League of Women Voters of Washington.

Section 3. State Council: The board of directors at a meeting before the date on which the names of delegates must be sent to the state office, shall select delegates to that council in the number allotted the League of Women Voters of Snohomish County under the provision of the bylaws of the League of Women Voters of Washington.

ARTICLE XI: PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the organization in all cases to which they are applicable and are not inconsistent with these bylaws.

ARTICLE XII: AMENDMENTS

These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the voting members present and voting at the annual meeting provided that the amendments were submitted to the membership in writing at least one month in advance of the meeting.

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